Wall hanger

ABSTRACT

A wall hanger is disclosed in which an elongated member such as a taper or a strand is provided with adhesive means at either end, the tape or strand is then attached to the back of a picture and is engaged by a picture hook for supporting the picture on a wall. The picture is adjusted by moving it so that the fulcrum between the picture hook and the strand is changed. The adhesive means may be either adhesive on the strand itself or adhesive pads may be provided with the strand attached to the pads at either end.

' Elite States Patent Tendler 1 Dec. 16, 1975 WALL HANGER 2,031,004 2/1936 Pollack 24/73 cs ux 2,059,825 11/1936 Talbott 24/265 11 x [76] Inventor: P Kano Tendler Buckndge 2,292,024 8/1942 Dreher 24/67 AR x Dnve, Amherst 03031 3,241,795 3/1966 Frye 248/467 3,241,796 3/1966 Asher at al. 248/467 [22] 1974 3,261,066 7/1966 Chamberlin 24/16 R x [21] Appl. No.: 446,394 3,298,655 l/l967 Palm 248/467 ux 3,350,045 10/1967 Mayers 24/DIG. 11

Related APPhcatlo" Dam 3,677,250 7/1972 Thomas 24/67 AR x Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 400,622, Sept. 25, 1973, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 235,174, March 16, 1972, Pat. No. 3,788,588.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Smith 24/D1G. l1 Erickson.. 24/D1G. 11 Smith 24/DIG. 11 Janowitz 24/17 A X Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin [5 7] ABSTRACT A wall hanger is disclosed in which an elongated member such as a taper or a strand is provided with adhesive means at either end, the tape or strand is then attached to the back of a picture and is engaged by a picture hook for supporting the picture on a wall. The picture is adjusted by moving it so that the fulcrum between the picture hook and the strand is changed. The adhesive means may be either adhesive on the strand itself or adhesive pads may be provided with the strand attached to the pads at either end.

9 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec 16, 1975 Sheet 1 of4 3,926,399

ADHESIVE SIDE 1 20 I: '7 ADHESIVE SIDE 2O HOOK l6 TAPE l5 iZZ/ ////X MDUNTING BOARD, ll

Fig. 3

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet20f4 3,926,399

U.S. Patent De c. 16, 1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,926,399

Fig. 7

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 4 of4 3,926,399

HG. ll

WALL HANGER REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application-is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 400,622 entitled Wall Hanger, filed Sept. 25, 1973, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 235,174 entitled Wall Hanger, filed Mar. 16, 1972 and now US. Pat. No. 3,788,588.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method and apparatus for hanging pictures and the like and more particularly to a hanger comprising an elongated member such as a tape narrowed, collapsed or twisted on itself at a central region or a strand, with the ends of the member adapted to adhere to the structure to be mounted. The central portion of this member is made to lie in a region midway between the sides of the structure to be mounted on the wall and is engaged by a hook or a protrusion from the wall to permit hanging.

In the past there have been several methods of mounting picutres to walls involving adhesive members. Most recent of these involves the use of a double sticky back tape. Depending on the tape used, pictures or posters mounted in this manner eventually either become disengaged from the wall or stick to the wall in such a manner that removal is made extremely difficult without damaging the wall or the picture. It will be appreciated in this type of adhesive mounting structure, that accurate centering is required since adjustment after the structure is mounted is difficult.

Another common adhesive type picture hanging structure is shown in US. Pat. No. 2,647,711 issued to J .M. Margulis on Aug. 4, 1953. In this method an adhesive strip is provided with an eyelet through which a metal hook attached to a further adhesive strip protrudes. The metal eyelet provides structural strength against tearing of the tape when the hole in the tape is slipped over the hook. It will be appreciated that this type of mounting method suffers from the same defect as the first mentioned mounting method in that proper centering and balancing is required when the adhesive strip is placed on the structure to be mounted. Thus no easy means of adjustment is provided once the strip is in place.

In contrast to these two methods of mounting structures on a wall, the subject system involves a member which may be a continuous adhesive tape which is either narrowed or twisted on itself at a central region, or a strand with adhesive means at either end. This member is elongated and is adapted to engage a hook or protrusion on the wall. The elongated portion serves much the same function as the traditional wire used in picture hanging, in that adjustment of the picture on the wall is accomplished by changing the fulcrum by sliding the hook along the elongated portion.

In contrast to conventional wire techniques, no screws or nails need be attached to a picture to support a wire when using the subject adhesive hanger.

Additionally, the manufacture of such a hanging device is extremely simple, since it will be appreciated that there need be no metal parts to complicate the manufacturing process.

Although initially it might seem that a member used in this manner would come off of the structure to be mounted, it has been found that this particular method and apparatus holds heavy structures in place on a wall for considerable lengths of time. Although this particular mounting system was adapted primarily for mounting picture board of a light weight nature to a wall, it has been found that due to the availability of strong tear resistant tapes and strands, and extremely adherent adhesives, structures of considerable weight may be mounted in this manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide apparatus for hanging a structure on a wall including a member having adhesive means at either end for mounting the member on the structure to be supported, the central or intermediate region of the member being adapted to engage a hook or protrusion from the wall.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method for hanging a structure on a wall with an elongated member having adhesive means at either end, in which the member adheres to the structure to be supported.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a method for hanging a structure on a wall comprising the steps of taking a continuous piece of adhesive tape and twisting it on itself so to form a central region and adhering the tape to the structure to be supported on the wall.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a method for mounting a structure to a wall comprising the steps of twisting an adhesive tape on itself so as to form a central region, affixing the adhesive tape to the structure to be mounted, affixing a mechanical protrusion to the wall, and placing the central twisted portion of the tape over the protrusion.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for hanging a structure on a wall including a piece of continuous tape narrowed on itself in a central region which is overlaid with material for increasing the structural integrity of the central region and permitting ease of manufacture.

Other objects of the invention will be better understood from the accompanying specification, drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagramatic representation showing a picture hung on a wall showing the mounting apparatus in dotted outline;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the tape utilized as the mounting means, showing the tape twisted on itself so as to form a central region and showing the engagement of a hook with the central region, which hook may be moved in a lateral direction so as to permit balancing of the picture on the wall;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the structure to be mounted to a wall showing in side view the tape and the hook utilized in mounting the structure to the wall;

FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of tape configuration in which a narrow central portion is formed and in which the transition from the narrow central portion to a wider portion is made in a continuous curve;

FIG. 5 is a further embodiment showing a tape configuration in which biaxial integral supporting strips are provided to add strength to the tape portion of the mounting apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the use of biaxially oriented separate pieces of tape which may be used to support the structure to be mounted.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the central portion of the tape helically wound with a strand;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a twisted central tape portion overwound with a strand;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a narrowed central tape portion overwound with a strand;

FIG. 10 is a paitial cross sectional diagram showing a central tubular portion overlaid with a coating layer; and

FIGS. II-16 show alternative embodiments of a hanger in which an elongated member is provided with a variety of adhesive means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a picture 10 mounted on a mounting board 11 which is fixedly attached to a wall shown by the reference character 12. The adhesive tape mounting apparatus is shown in dotted outline by continuous tape 15. A hook is shown at 16 to be mechanically attached to the wall. The structure 11 is supported by the engagement of the hook with a central portion 17 of the continuous tape which central portion is a portion of the tape twisted on itself. As illustrated in FIG. 2 in one form the central portion is a helically wound generally cylindrical portion which may be made to adhere to itself for strength as described hereinafter. The term adhesive tape as used herein refers generally to pressure-sensitive tapes, water-activated tapes and heat-sensitive tapes. In addition, this term includes any tape which adheres to the structure to be supported.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the tape and hook combination is shown with like numbers denoting corresponding elements in FIG. 1. From FIG. 2, it will be appreciated that in one embodiment the tape has a single adhesive side shown by the reference character 20. This adhesive side is the same at either end of the central region 17 so as to adhere to the structure to be supported. As can be seen from the double ended arrow 21, the hook 16 can be moved laterally so as to provide the proper fulcrum for the hanging structure thereby facilitating easy alignment for balancing of a picture on a wall.

From FIG. 2 it will be seen that the force of the hook on the tape is shown by the arrow 25 to be in an upward direction. This direction is biaxial to the length of the continuous tape. It will be appreciated that in many of the prior art handles for structures, tape is utilized in which the force on the handle is along the axis of the tape and not in a biaxial direction as shown in FIG. 2. For the purposes of this description, biaxial refers to a direction in the plane of the tape perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tape. Thus a force perendicular to the plane of the paper on which FIG. 2 is drawn would be excluded from the term biaxial. One advantage of the subject approach lies in the fact that a biaxial force as hereinbefore defined does not cause the tape to rip or tear. Nor does the force result in a shear force of such a magnitude so as to cause the tape to separate from the structure to be mounted. It will be therefore appreciated that a continuous tape twisted on itself in and of itself, without mechanical or metal braces is sufficient alone to be used in combination with a hook as shown in FIG. 2.

It will be apparent that the adhesive qualities of the tape as well as the width of the tape and the material of which the tape is made will materially determine the weight of the structure which can be. mounted in this manner. It is however well within the state of the art to utilize tape to support structures of considerable weight. Examples of such tapes are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,647,711 issued Aug. 4,1953 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,294,355 issued Dec. 27, 1966. 4, 1953 In, general, tapes suited for this application fall into three categories: pressure-sensitive, water-activated, and heat-sensitive. The pressure-sensitive tapes generally use rubber base or acrylic adhesives on backing materials such as acetate, cellophane, polyester, vinyl, cloth and paper. These tapes may be reinforced as in the case of acetate and polyester backing materials by using fiber reinforcing materials such as rayon or glass. The water-activated tapes usually use paper or cloth backing materials in combination with animal or vegetable glues including casein and starch. These tapes are wetted prior to applying the tape to the back of a picture. The heat-sensitive tapes are made from the thermosetting type resins which need only heat to cure. Heat-sensitive tapes are in general made from polyester, epoxy, or phenolic base materials in which the tape is ironed on to the picture. In the first type of tape mentioned, the pressure-sensitive adhesive adds to the strength of the central twisted region once the tape with the adhesive is twisted. In the latter two types of tape, the central twisted region may be made to adhere to itself prior to use, by applying either water or heat to the central region. This adds the strength of the adhesive to the inherent strength of the twisted tape. Under most loading conditions, this additional strengthening is not necessary. In any case, the tape backing and adhesive is chosen to be adequate for the load supported. Obviously, adhesive also includes glue and epoxy resins which may be applied to the tape just prior to mounting. Further, any combination of the above tape backings and adhesives are within the scope of this invention.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the top view of the subject apparatus is shown in which the mounting board 11 is connected to the book 16 by the tape 15 formed in manner described. It will be appreciated that the mounting board can be balanced by moving the hook 16 along the central portion 17 of the tape 15.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that there are many types and widths of tape which will be suitable depending upon the weight and consistency of the structure to be mounted adjacent the wall. The system thus far described relies on both mechanical and adhesive properties used in combination so as to support the structures of relatively great weight as compared to those supportable by hangers having solely adhesivebacked coacting members.

There are however other configurations of the tape which when twisted upon itself will provide for even greater mechanical stability of the mounting.

In one embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the tape 15 is made extremely wide except for a central portion 32 having a length denoted by the character L. This figure shows the tape prior to being twisted on itself so as to from the central region 17 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In this embodiment there is a first width of tape denoted by the symbol W which is the major portion of the tape to adhere to the structure to be mounted. The central region 32 is to be formed by the narrow portion of the tape 15 designated by character W It will be appreciated from this figure that the transition between the width W and the width W, is continuous as shown by the continuous lines 30. The continuity of these lines prevents shear forces from tearing the tape once the picture is hung.

If additional support is required, the tape may be configured as shown in FIG. 5. In this case, the tape is provided with two biaxial strips 35 at right angles to the tape prior to its being twisted on itself. Assuming the tape to be of a quality which does not easily tear, the right angles between the tabs 35 and the tape body will not be a factor in the failure of a system utilizing this type of tape. Again it is the length L of the tape which is to be twisted on itself to provide the central region.

In one futher embodiment once the tape is in place on the structure to be mounted on the wall, additional tape strips 40 may be placed over the tape in a position shown so as to provide increased mechanical stability of the mounting system.

It will, however, be appreciated that the strips 40 need not be used in a large variety of cases where the structure to be mounted to the wall is relatively light. Such would be in the case in photographic mounting board or poster board as it is sometimes called. It is a relatively simple packaging matter to provide a package in which the far ends of the tape can be detached from the majority of the tape so as to provide for the cross pieces 40 as shown in FIG. 6.

There has therefore been provided an extremely easy and inexpensive method and apparatus for mounting structures to a wall or vertically extending structure. The major factors which permit such an easy mounting are the structural strength of the tape twisted on itself retearing and also the uncommon resistance of the tape to pulling away when a biaxial force as described hereinbefore is applied to the tape. Further, the central twisted portion of the tape can be made to adhere to itself to provide for increased strength. There should also be considered the ease of centering and balancing provided by the method and apparatus described which is unlike adhesive systems in the prior art. It will be appreciated that tape twisted on itself could be dispensed from a roll in much the same way as cellophane or adhesive tape is dispensed, with a cutting portion of the dispenser serving to separate the individual pieces of tape necessary for each mounting application.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-10 an alternative embodiment is illustrated in which the narrowed portion of the tape is overlaid, overwrapped or coated with a material which aids in the structural integrity or stability of the central portion. This type construction also simplifies manufacture since the narrowing of the tape at the central portion can be accomplished at the wrapping stage.

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 7, the already formed hanger 50 is provided with a helically wound strand 51 which surrounds a generally cylindrical portion 52 formed in any of a variety of ways as will appear hereinafter. As can be seen, tape flat portions 53 adjacent central cylindrical portion 52 are free of the strand, although the strand ends may be embedded therein if desired.

Strand 51 may be adhesively attached to the central portion, either by precoating the strands with a suitable adhesive, or by saturating the strands after winding.

The central cylindrical portion 52 may be formed in a variety of ways. For instance, the tape may be twisted on itself as in FIG. 8 to form a central core, with strand 51 overlaying the core. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 9 the tape may simply be collapsed on itself in its central region and an overlying material supplied to aid in structural stability and integrity as well as maintaining the narrowed central region in a generally cylindrical configuration.

It will be appreciated, that from a generic point of view strand 51 in an overlying material.

In FIG. 10 the central portion 52 is overlaid with either a coating or cylindrical member 54 which maintains the structural integrity of the central core. Member 54 can be a coating, a cylinder crimped or adhesively attached in place, or any member which surrounds the core whether or not adhesively attached thereto.

Thus the embodiments of FIGS. 7-10, in addition to having all the advantages of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 also permit certain economies of manufacture in that the tape can be collapsed or narrowed on itself, with or without an outer winding to provide structural integrity to the hanger.

As can be seen, the generic concept is that of an elongated member having adhesive means at the ends thereof to provide a hanger which is both easy to make and is easy to apply. Moreover, the hanger is-easily engaged by a picture hook at an intermediate section thereof.

Referring to FIG. 11, tape 15 of FIG. 1 is provided with adhesive in the form of double sticky back adhesive pads at either end thereof. This pad is typically provided with a foam-like center portion having adhesive on the major faces thereof, with side 63 carrying adhesive for adhesively connecting the ends of the elongated member to the structure to be hanged. As in FIG. 1, the elongated member is engaged by hook 16 when the structure is hung on a wall.

In a further embodiment, the elongated member is a strand 64 as illustrated in FIGS. 12-16. In each of the embodiments of FIGS. 12-15 the strand is provided with adhesive means in the form of pads 60. In FIG. 12, pad 60 is provided with a stiff top plate 61 to which strand 64 is adhesively attached at 65. Alternatively plate 65 may be omitted.

In FIGS. 13, 14 and 16, strand 64 is provided with a ball, knot or other detent means 66. This detent means then engages a hook 67 protruding from plate 61 in FIG. 13, a punchedout portion 70 in plate 61 of FIG. 14, or a crimped hook 83 of FIG. 16 which is mechanically attached to a cloth adhesive tape 82.

In FIG. 15, strand 64 is tied around a post protruding from plate 61 of that figure.

It will be appreciated that in the embodiments of FIGS. 12-15 plate 61 is an aid to achieving mechanical stability, although depending on the loading conditions, this plate may not be necessary. In all cases the elongated member adheres to the picture by adhesive means which may take on a variety of forms in such a manner that the adhesive means are in spaced apart relationship. In all cases the elongated member is engaged at an intermediate portion by a protrusion from the wall be it a nail or an adhesively mounted hook.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A hanger for mounting structures on a wall comprising in combination: an elongated flexible member having flat end pieces fixedly attached at the ends of said elongated flexible member and adhesive means (at 2. In combination:

A wall, a protrusion from the wall, a structure to be mounted on the wall, and a hanger adhesively affixed to said structure, said hanger including an elongated flexible member, flat end pieces fixedly attached at the ends of said elongated flexible member, and adhesive means for securing (the ends of said member) said end pieces to said structure in spaced apart relationship so that said elongated member depends between said adhesive means, said elongated member being engaged at a portion along the length thereof by said protrusion such that said structure may be balanced to a predetermined orientation with respect to said wall by 8 changing the position at which said protrusion engages said elongated member to change the fulcrum.

3. The hanger of claim 2, wherein said adhesive means include adhesive pads.

4. The hanger of claim 3, wherein said pads include a protrusion to which said member is fixedly attached.

5. The hanger of claim 4 wherein, said protrusion includes a hook.

6. The hanger of claim 3, wherein said pads include a stiff plate member on the side thereof opposite that adapted to adhere to said structure, and a protrusion from said plate member.

7. The hanger of claim 2, wherein said adhesive means includes a member having a portion deformable about said elongated member.

8. The hanger of claim 2, wherein said elongated member is a strand.

9. The hanger of claim 8, wherein said strand is provided with detent means at the ends thereof.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,926,399 DATED December 16, 1975 INVENIOR(S) Robert Kanof Tendler It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Abstract, line 2, delete "taper" and substitute therefor --tape-- Claim 1, 1ins4-5, delete "(it either end thereof)" Claim 1, lines 5-6 delete "(the ends of said'member)" Claim 2, lines 7-8, delete "(the ends of said member)" Signed and Sealed this Twenty-first D f September 197 6 [SEAL] RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner uj'latenls and Trademarkx 

1. A hanger for mounting structures on a wall comprising in combination: an elongated flexible member having flat end pieces fixedly attached at the ends of said elongated flexible member and adhesive means (at either end thereof) for securing (the ends of said member) said end pieces to said structure in spaced apart relationship; and hook means for engaging said elongated member at an intermediate portion thereof, thereby to facilitate balancing of said structure on said wall by movement of said hook means along said intermediate portion to change the fulcrum.
 2. In combination: A wall, a protrusion from the wall, a structure to be mounted on the wall, and a hanger adhesively affixed to said structure, said hanger including an elongated flexible member, flat end pieces fixedly attached at the ends of said elongated flexible member, and adhesive means for securing (the ends of said member) said end pieces to said structure in spaced apart relationship so that said elongated member depends between said adhesive means, said elongated member being engaged at a portion along the length thereof by said protrusion such that said structure may be balanced to a predetermined orientation with respect to said wall by changing the position at which said protrusion engages said elongated member to change the fulcrum.
 3. The hanger of claim 2, wherein said adhesive means include adhesive pads.
 4. The hanger of claim 3, wherein said pads include a protrusion to which said member is fixedly attached.
 5. The hanger of claim 4 wherein, said protrusion includes a hook.
 6. The hanger of claim 3, wherein said pads include a stiff plate member on the side thereof opposite that adapted to adhere to said structure, and a protrusion from said plate member.
 7. The hanger of claim 2, wherein said adhesive means includes a member having a portion deformable about said elongated member.
 8. The hanger of claim 2, wherein said elongated member is a strand.
 9. The hanger of claim 8, wherein said strand is provided with detent means at the ends thereof. 